Just Bones Boardwear
NJ mom Jennifer Weisman has reinvented the surfer boardshort for boys who are "just bones thin" with this cool line of fashionable and fully adjustible trunks.
While shopping for her two boys, Weisman realized there was a void in the market for boardshorts that stay on comfortably. "As the mother of twin sons who wanted to wear cool surfer boardshorts," says Weisman, "I was surprised and frustrated by the lack of good fit for growing boys…I was tired of watching them pull on uncomfortable drawstrings and tug at the waist."
Just Bones Boardwear offers the ideal solution for boys who are between sizes (how many of us can relate to this?!) and don't fit into traditional boardshorts. A Velcro flap is discreetly hidden at the waistband in the back, and this patented design allows for comfort by keeping the adjustable mechanism on the outside of the shorts. These shorts are innovative, versatile, and flexible enough to be adjusted even while wearing. Perfect for moms who want something more secure for all their kids' water activities.
And kids will be jazzed sporting the funky designs. How cool are these??
Raskulls Swim Gear
This imaginative line of swim gear turns kids into kittens, dolphins, T-Rex, and more to encourage kids to enjoy the benefits of active water play.
"Most companies just shrink adult versions of swim gear and call it a kids' line. Those products are functional but not much fun," says Conan Hayes, former pro-surfer and CEO of C-Preme, maker of the Raskullz line. "We design our swim gear from the ground up with kids in mind. Our cute characters and 3D designs inspire kids to use their imagination and get excited about swimming and playing in the pool."
In the goggle and swim mask category, kids can choose from 3D characters such as Cutie Cat, Miss Dolly Fin Fun, Shark Attax, T-Chopz, Cutie Wildcat, and Mohawk. Additional characters are available on Raskullz body boards and kick boards, which take their design from surfboards. Raskulls swim gear is made of durable rubber, plastic, and other water-ready materials, with adjustible head straps, belts, and buckles on goggles and masks to make them comfortable to wear.
I've just ordered several items, two for my own kids, and another two to use as a birthday presents this summer. I am obsessive about giving the perfect gift!
Melissa & Doug Sand Toys
Seaside and sandbox play have been reimagined and expanded with the line of innovative sand toys from Melissa & Doug, including their ice-cream and cupcake sets. Upon seeing this image, how much do you want to get to back to the beach to concoct your own confections?
Melissa & Doug keep churning out uniquely cool offerings; I'm consistently impressed by their ability to incite the imagination of kids and adults alike. Their line of sand toys will turn sand boxes, seashores, lakesides, and backyards into gourmet kitchens (as well as ocean-themed kingdoms with sea creature pails, molds, and tools, and more)! I get positively giddy imagining the hours of play these products are sure to guarantee for my kids.
When my four-year-old saw caught a glimpse of cupcake set on my monitor, he high-tailed it over to see what it was I was looking at and made immediate, frantic requests for me to place an order. I know I will, because I just want to get my hands on them, too. And that's one of the keys to a good toy—knowing you won't mind playing with it as well. Fake sand sprinkles, here I come!
If I had these when younger, I would've spent even more time in the backyard making mud concoctions. (Wait, who am I kidding? I look forward to doing that this weekend!)
Jersey Shore photography by Matt Schrier
And… finally. Something more for the other 'kids' in our lives—er, us…
I came across these Jersey Shore photographs by Pennsylvanian photographer Matt Schrier on Etsy and was immediately smitten. Schrier's Jersey Shore series offers moments in time both pre- and post-Sandy, and I was touched by the calm, yet evocative, beauty found through his lens.
"I try to explore the mundane as well as magnificent, looking for an expression of grace and beauty," says Schrier. "Having lived all of my life in beautiful Bucks County, I have an appreciation for the beauty of nature in all of its seasons. From the first leaf-fall to the last snowflake, I am in constant search for scenes and subjects that I can capture in a moment in time. Shapes and form, colors and shades—they all appear in their own time and place, often unexpectedly."
You can purchase anything from postcard prints to unmatted photographs in various sizes, each offered at an extremely reasonable price. What better way to celebrate Jersey's resilience than displaying a framed photo of our beloved shore?
Judy Grover, the editor of New Jersey Family, is on the constant lookout for the latest great offerings for—who else?—New Jersey families.
Looking for summer fun? Check out our go-to guide to family-friendly summertime fun in NJ!
